US9273721B2 - Bearing device and solar power plant unit using the same - Google Patents

Bearing device and solar power plant unit using the same Download PDF

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Publication number
US9273721B2
US9273721B2 US13/855,875 US201313855875A US9273721B2 US 9273721 B2 US9273721 B2 US 9273721B2 US 201313855875 A US201313855875 A US 201313855875A US 9273721 B2 US9273721 B2 US 9273721B2
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United States
Prior art keywords
roller
bearing
unit
spherical plain
bearing device
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Expired - Fee Related, expires
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US13/855,875
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English (en)
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US20130286494A1 (en
Inventor
Markus Behn
Heinz Breunig
Tristan Kaiser
Henning Kern
Hans-Juergen Liesegang
Mathias Noeth
Christina Pfeuffer
Mathias Seuberling
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SKF AB
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SKF AB
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Assigned to AKTIEBOLAGET SKF reassignment AKTIEBOLAGET SKF ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: LIESEGANG, HANS-JUERGEN, KERN, HENNING, NOETH, MATHIAS, PFEUFFER, CHRISTINA, Behn, Markus, BREUNIG, HEINZ, SEUBERLING, MATHIAS, KAISER, TRISTAN
Publication of US20130286494A1 publication Critical patent/US20130286494A1/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C19/00—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement
    • F16C19/22—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings
    • F16C19/24—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings for radial load mainly
    • F16C19/26—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings for radial load mainly with a single row of rollers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C13/00—Rolls, drums, discs, or the like; Bearings or mountings therefor
    • F16C13/02—Bearings
    • F16C13/04—Bearings with only partial enclosure of the member to be borne; Bearings with local support at two or more points
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C19/00—Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement
    • F16C19/50—Other types of ball or roller bearings
    • F16C19/507—Other types of ball or roller bearings with rolling elements journaled in one of the moving parts, e.g. stationary rollers to support a rotating part
    • F24J2/541—
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
    • F24S30/42—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with only one rotation axis
    • F24S30/425—Horizontal axis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B7/00—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements
    • G02B7/18—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for prisms; for mirrors
    • G02B7/182—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for prisms; for mirrors for mirrors
    • F24J2002/5482—
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S2030/10—Special components
    • F24S2030/15—Bearings
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/47—Mountings or tracking

Definitions

  • the present teachings generally relate to a bearing device for a solar power plant unit and to a solar power unit containing the same.
  • a bearing unit for a solar power plant unit which includes pylons, is known from DE 10 2009 039 021 A1 (US 2011/0048405).
  • the pylons support two rotatably-borne rollers, which assist in supporting (bearing) a torque (torsion) tube that is connected to a mirror.
  • the bearing (bearing device) for a solar power plant unit includes at least one support element and at least one first roller bearing unit, which at least rotatably supports at least a first roller and a second roller.
  • the roller bearing unit is movably supported on the support element.
  • a “bearing (bearing device) for a solar power plant unit” shall in particular be understood to mean a unit that at least contributes to movably supporting (bearing) a unit of a solar power plant, such as e.g., a panel having solar cells, wherein the unit is preferably formed as a bearing unit for a solar power plant mirror unit.
  • a “bearing (bearing device) for a solar power plant mirror unit” shall in particular be understood to mean a unit that at least contributes to movably supporting (bearing) a mirror unit of a solar power plant.
  • the mirror unit can include one or a plurality of mirrors.
  • a “support unit” shall in particular be understood to mean a unit that at least partially supports the weight of the roller bearing unit, wherein the support unit, in a completely assembled/installed state, preferably transfers the force of the completely or partially supported weight to the ground.
  • the fact that the roller bearing unit “at least” rotatably supports (bears) a roller shall in particular be understood to mean that the roller bearing unit has at least one area on which the roller bearing unit rotatably supports (bears) the roller, wherein the supporting (bearing) of the roller by the roller bearing unit can also permit a movement of the roller relative to the area, which movement is different from rotation about an axis of the roller.
  • a highly efficient bearing (bearing device) for a solar power plant unit can be achieved with the present teachings.
  • an optimal positioning of the rollers can be achieved relative to an element of the solar power plant, in particular to a torque (torsion) tube unit, to support forces.
  • additional rollers may contribute to supporting the forces, in which case low Hertzian stresses on the individual rollers, and thereby a long service life, can be achieved.
  • the roller bearing unit is preferably rotatably supported (borne) on the support element, whereby a simple and effective design can be achieved.
  • the bearing (bearing device) for a solar power plant unit may further include at least one second roller bearing unit, which rotatably supports (bears) at least one third roller.
  • at least one second roller bearing unit which rotatably supports (bears) at least one third roller.
  • the first roller bearing unit includes a first spherical plain bearing, which supports (bears) the first roller.
  • a durable design can be achieved.
  • the support element is advantageously formed as one piece.
  • the term “one piece” shall be understood in particular to mean from one casting and/or from one injection molding and/or only separable by destroying or tearing the component.
  • a “one piece” component does not have a seam in it resulting from adhering, welding, soldering, etc., two separate parts (or two edges of a single part) together.
  • a stable and inexpensive design can be achieved with such one-piece components.
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a representative bearing for a solar power plant unit, which supports a tube unit.
  • FIG. 2 shows a side view of the bearing for a solar power plant unit and the tube unit, wherein a part of the bearing is cut away for explanation purposes.
  • FIG. 3 shows a partial section through the bearing for a solar power plant unit and through a part of the tube unit.
  • FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a mirror unit of a solar power plant unit, which includes the tube unit.
  • FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary bearing unit for a solar power plant unit, which is formed as a bearing unit for a solar power plant mirror unit and which supports a tube unit 32 of a solar power plant mirror unit.
  • bearing unit and “bearing” are intended to be interchangeable when referring to the overall bearing device.
  • the tube unit 32 is shown in a truncated manner along its axial direction, but is understood as extending along the length of the mirror unit as was described above.
  • the solar power plant mirror unit bearing unit includes a support unit 11 having a support element 10 .
  • the support element 10 is preferably formed as one piece, i.e. without a seam therein.
  • the bearing unit for a solar power plant mirror unit further includes a first and a second roller bearing unit 12 , 18 .
  • the first roller bearing unit 12 is rotatably supported (borne) on the support element 10 .
  • the second roller bearing unit 18 is also rotatably supported (borne) on the support element 10 (See FIG. 2 ).
  • the bearing unit for a solar power plant mirror unit preferably comprises four rollers 14 , 16 , 20 , 22 .
  • the first and the second rollers 14 , 16 are rotatably supported (borne) by the roller bearing unit 12 relative to a support component 28 of the roller bearing unit 12 .
  • the third and the fourth rollers 20 , 22 are rotatably supported (borne) by the roller bearing unit 18 .
  • the first and second roller bearing units may have identical constructions.
  • the first roller bearing unit 12 includes a spherical plain bearing 24 which supports the first roller 14 (See FIG. 3 ). Moreover, a second spherical plain bearing 26 of the roller bearing unit 12 supports the second roller 16 .
  • Each of the rollers has a groove 30 , which extends 360° around the circumferential direction of the respective roller. The groove base of the respective roller forms a rolling surface.
  • the first and second spherical plain bearings 24 , 26 may have identical constructions.
  • a bolt 38 of the spherical plain bearing 24 is fixed relative to the support component 28 .
  • a component or part of the spherical plain bearing 26 is fixed relative to the support component 28 .
  • an inner ring of the spherical plain bearing 24 has a spherical surface and is attached to the bolt 38 in the radial direction of the spherical plain bearing 24 .
  • the roller 14 is attached to the outer ring of the spherical plain bearing 24 .
  • the outer ring of the spherical plain bearing 24 has an inner surface in the radial direction of the spherical plain bearing 24 . The inner surface abuts the surface of the inner ring, so that the axial direction of the roller 12 is tiltable relative to the axial direction of the inner ring.
  • the tube unit 32 includes a spring 34 , which extends 360° around the circumferential direction of a tube 36 of the tube unit 32 and engages in (protrudes into) each of the grooves. Forces that act on the tube in the axial and radial direction of the tube are transmitted to the rollers by the contact of the spring and the grooves.
  • the spring is attached to the tube. A linear expansion of the tube unit caused by heating causes the rollers to tilt about their respective axial directions. Edge stresses on the rollers can thereby be avoided.
  • the interiors of the spherical plain bearings 24 , 26 contain lubricant and are sealed relative to the outside environment, such that the spherical plain bearings are maintenance-free.
  • An exemplary solar power plant includes the mirror unit shown in FIG. 4 , which includes the tube unit 32 and a mirror 40 . Further, the bearing unit for a solar power plant unit is part of the solar power plant. The mirror is attached to the tube unit. The mirror has a parabolic shape and reflects sunlight to heat a fluid flowing in a tube or pipe.
  • the solar power plant has a pylon on which the bearing unit for a solar power plant unit is attached.
  • the tube unit is supported by a plurality of such pylons and bearing units for a solar power plant unit. Actuators can move the tube unit, and thus the mirror, relative to the pylons.
  • the bearing unit for a solar power plant unit is durable, and the service life may be at least thirty years.
  • the design of the bearing unit for a solar power plant unit is compact, because otherwise the size of the mirror would have to be reduced.
  • a uniform abutment of the rollers on the tube unit, and thus a uniform load distribution, is achieved by the movable support (bearing) of the rollers.
  • the spherical plain bearing shown in FIG. 3 can be replaced by two angular contact spherical plain bearings, in particular in applications of the present teachings in which high axial loads are expected.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Support Of The Bearing (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
  • Rolls And Other Rotary Bodies (AREA)
US13/855,875 2012-04-03 2013-04-03 Bearing device and solar power plant unit using the same Expired - Fee Related US9273721B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102012205486 2012-04-03
DE102012205486A DE102012205486A1 (de) 2012-04-03 2012-04-03 Solarkraftwerkseinheitlagereinheit
DE102012205486.3 2012-04-03

Publications (2)

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US20130286494A1 US20130286494A1 (en) 2013-10-31
US9273721B2 true US9273721B2 (en) 2016-03-01

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US13/855,875 Expired - Fee Related US9273721B2 (en) 2012-04-03 2013-04-03 Bearing device and solar power plant unit using the same

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US9273721B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP2647855A2 (fr)
CN (1) CN103363698A (fr)
DE (1) DE102012205486A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11525604B1 (en) 2021-10-21 2022-12-13 Nextracker Llc Articulation joints for terrain following solar tracker
US20230279987A1 (en) * 2022-03-01 2023-09-07 Sun And Steel Solar Llc Simple bearing for solar tracking
US11863118B2 (en) 2020-12-22 2024-01-02 Sun And Steel Solar Llc Bearing system for solar tracker

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11035591B2 (en) * 2015-10-13 2021-06-15 Corosolar Llc Bearing assembly for solar trackers
CN106052173B (zh) * 2016-07-28 2018-08-17 中海阳能源集团股份有限公司 一种用于槽式集热器的支撑轴承及包括该支撑轴承的光热发电系统

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2346137A1 (de) 1972-09-20 1974-03-28 Domenico Dipl Ing Domenighetti Einrichtung zur uebertragung der drehbewegung an eine zylindrische trommel od. dgl
GB1402298A (en) 1971-11-10 1975-08-06 Fives Lille Cail Support for rotary tubular furnace or similar apparatus
US4484568A (en) 1981-08-31 1984-11-27 Solar Kinetics, Inc. Overheat emergency outfocus mechanism for solar energy collector
US4856172A (en) * 1988-03-18 1989-08-15 Hughes Aircraft Company Method for the strain-free mounting of optical components
US20060105845A1 (en) * 2002-05-08 2006-05-18 Girguis Sobhy L Synchronized sliding joint
US20110048405A1 (en) 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 Flagsol Gmbh Parabolic trough collector
CN102012124A (zh) 2003-07-01 2011-04-13 阿雷瓦太阳能有限公司 用于太阳能反射器部件的托架

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1402298A (en) 1971-11-10 1975-08-06 Fives Lille Cail Support for rotary tubular furnace or similar apparatus
DE2346137A1 (de) 1972-09-20 1974-03-28 Domenico Dipl Ing Domenighetti Einrichtung zur uebertragung der drehbewegung an eine zylindrische trommel od. dgl
GB1392145A (en) 1972-09-20 1975-04-30 Domenighetti D Transmission device
US4484568A (en) 1981-08-31 1984-11-27 Solar Kinetics, Inc. Overheat emergency outfocus mechanism for solar energy collector
US4856172A (en) * 1988-03-18 1989-08-15 Hughes Aircraft Company Method for the strain-free mounting of optical components
US20060105845A1 (en) * 2002-05-08 2006-05-18 Girguis Sobhy L Synchronized sliding joint
CN102012124A (zh) 2003-07-01 2011-04-13 阿雷瓦太阳能有限公司 用于太阳能反射器部件的托架
US7950386B2 (en) * 2003-07-01 2011-05-31 Areva Solar Pty Limited Carrier for a solar energy reflector element
US20110048405A1 (en) 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 Flagsol Gmbh Parabolic trough collector
DE102009039021A1 (de) 2009-08-28 2011-07-21 Flagsol GmbH, 50678 Parabolrinnenkollektor

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11863118B2 (en) 2020-12-22 2024-01-02 Sun And Steel Solar Llc Bearing system for solar tracker
US11525604B1 (en) 2021-10-21 2022-12-13 Nextracker Llc Articulation joints for terrain following solar tracker
US11874030B2 (en) 2021-10-21 2024-01-16 Nextracker Llc Articulation joints for terrain following solar tracker
US20230279987A1 (en) * 2022-03-01 2023-09-07 Sun And Steel Solar Llc Simple bearing for solar tracking
US11946587B2 (en) * 2022-03-01 2024-04-02 Sun And Steel Solar Llc Simple bearing for solar tracking

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20130286494A1 (en) 2013-10-31
DE102012205486A1 (de) 2013-10-10
CN103363698A (zh) 2013-10-23
EP2647855A2 (fr) 2013-10-09

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